Ratchet mechanism for winding devices.



I G. P. CRUTCHFIELD.

RATCHET MECHANISM FOR ,WINDI'NG DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZS, 1915.

Patented Apr. 25,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

WITNESSES: VNTOR,

Attorney THE, COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH 0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

G. P. CRUTCHHELD. RATCHET MECHANISM FOR WINDING DEVlCES.

APPLICATl ON FILED JUNE 23, I915.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Allomey W1 TNESSES:

THE comm-mm PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, n. c.

GEORGE PATTERSON CRUTCHFIELD,

OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

RA'ICHET MECHANISM FOR WINDING DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 191.6.

Application filed June 23, 1915. Serial No. 35,905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. Cmrrorr- FIELD, citizen of the United States, residing at Greensboro, in the county of Guilford and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Ratchet Mechanism for Ending Devices, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in winding mechanism, and the object is to provide means for winding a rope, cable, or chain upon a shaft for the purpose of applying brakes, and elevating and hauling articles or objects into and out of a vehicle.

Another object is the provision of look-- ing means for limiting the direction of rotation of the shaft, as the rope or cable is wound on the shaft, so that the shaft will be held against unwinding. And another object is in the provision of means for releasing the locking means and disengaging it from the shaft to allow the shaft to rotate in a counter-clockwise or oppositedirection for the purpose of unwinding the rope or cable.

A further object of the invention is in providing the shaft with a foot-lever in connection with a crank handle, whereby the operator may assist in rotating the shaft by applying a foot to the footlever.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

It will be evident that many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the several parts to be described, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of dray wagon, showing the invention applied thereto for operating the brakes. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the shaft, showing the foot-lever, pawl, ratchet teeth and releasing means in top plan. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the pawl. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the releasing means. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view showing a portion of the invention in elevation, and an auxiliary winding shaft driven by the main winding shaft by suitable gearing. Fig. 7 is an elevation, showing the invention applied to a crane which is mounted on a wagon box, the wagon box being shown in section. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the crane showing a portion of the winding shaft in elevation. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the wagon box and its unloading mechanism, showing the invention in elevation applied to the wagon box.

A represents the winding shaft which is provided with a crank handle 1 at its upper terminal. The winding shaft or Windlass is preferably made hollow, and is provided at its lower end with slots 2 for the reception of an end of the cable to be wound upon the shaft. Mounted upon the shaft is a sleeve or bracket 3, which is connected to the shaft by a pin 4;, or, if desired, the sleeve or bracket may be made integral with the shaft.

A frame 5 is mounted upon a foot-board or other support 6, and is connected thereto by means of bolts 7 and nuts 8. The frame 5 is preferably made U-shaped and has two of its sides open, although any other suitable shape of frame may be employed. The frame 5 is provided with an opening 9, and a similar opening 10 is formed in the footboard or support 6. The winding shaft A extends through the openings 9 and 10, and the lower terminal of the bracket or sleeve 8 is mounted upon the frame 5. The lower surface of the bracket is provided with ball race 11, and a similar ball race 12 is formed in the upper surface of the frame 5. Balls 13 are mounted in the ball races 11 and 12 for forming an anti-friction bearing for the shaft. A collar 14.- is mounted upon the shaft, beneath the frame 5, and is held thereto by means of a set-screw 15, for fastening the shaft against vertical movement.

Circularly arranged ratchet teeth 16 are formed on the upper surface of the frame 5, which are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 17. The pawl 17 is pivotally connected to the sleeve or bracket 3 by means of a pin 18. The sleeve or bracket 3 is provided with a slot 19 in which the pivoted end of the pawl is received.

A ring 20 is mounted upon the upper surface of the frame 5, and is located around the outer edge of the ratchet teeth 16. The ring is of such a thickness that it extends a suflicient distance below the apex of the teeth, and a portion of the pawl rests upon or engages the ring. Connected to the ring 20, and extending through suitable openings formed in the frame 5, are stems 21. A lever 22 extends through a slot 23, formed in an end of the frame 5, and is fulcrumed to the frame by a pin 2 l. The lever is bifurcated at one end,'and the ends 25 of the bifurcation each loosely engage a stem 21. Springs 26 are mounted upon the stems 21, and are interposed between the underside of the frame 5, and the bifurcated ends 25 of the lever 22. The lever 22 is intended to be operated by either the hand or foot of the operator as .the occasion may demand. VJhen the lever 22 is pressed downwardly the stems 21 are moved upwardly, causing the ring 20 to be raised above the upper surface of the frame 5. This upward movement of the ring 20 releases the pawl 17 from engagement with the teeth 16, causing it to be moved inthe arc of a circle, and the pawl will be held out of engagement with the teeth as long as the ring 20 is held above the surface of the frame 5. When the pawl 17 is held out of engagement with the teeth 16, the shaft A can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, but when the pawl is in engagement with the teeth the shaft can only be rotated in a clockwise direction, the pawl preventing the shaft from rotating counter-clockwise. A ratchet wheel 27 is mounted upon the shaft A and'is fastened thereto by a key 28. A foot lever 29, which is preferably made L-shaped, is provided with a bifurcation or slot 30. The ends 31 of the lever formed by the bifurcation or slot, are provided with openings, through which the shaft A extends, and received in the bifurcation or slot is the ratchet wheel 27. One of the ends 31 of the lever rests upon the upper end of the bracket or sleeve 3.

A dog 32 is received in a recess 33 formed in the lever, and a spring 34 mounted in the recess 33 engages the dog 32 for forcing the dog into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 27. The dog and ratchet connection between the lever 29 and the ratchet wheel 27 permits the shaft to be rotated upon the application of pressure to the lever 29 by the foot of the operator. The lever can be forced outwardly and then drawn backward by the foot of the operator, for the purpose of giving another turn to the shaft. When the lever is inoved rearwardly the dog 32 will travel over the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

In the application of the invention, as shown in Fig. 1, B represents the wagon body or box, and 35 the wheels. A brake beam 36 is connected to the wagon body and is provided with brake shoes 37, only one being shown. A brake lever 38 is connected to the brake beam 36, and a cable or rope 39 is connected to the lever 38 and to the winding shaft A. Upon the rotation of the shaft A by the crank handle 1, and the foot lever 29, the cable or rope 39 is wound upon the shaft, causing the brake shoes to engage the wheels for retarding the speed of the vehicle. WVhen the cable or rope is being wound upon the shaft A, the pawl 17 is in engagement with the teeth 16 for preventing the counter-clockwise movement of the shaft, and for holding the brake shoes in engagement with the wheels. hen it is desired to release the brake, the lever 22 is pressed downwardly by the foot of the operator, causing the ring 20 to be raised for lifting the pawl 17 out of engagement with the teeth 16. Upon the disengagement of the pawl 17 from the teeth 16 the shaft is free to rotate in a counter-clockwise direc tion thereby allowing the cable to be unwound from the shaft and releasing the brake shoes from the wheels.

Vhile I have set forth the application of the invention to the brake commonly applied to a dray or lumber wagon, I wish it understood that the invention could be connected with other forms of brakes than the brake disclosed.

In Fig. 6 an auxiliary winding shaft 410 is shown connected to the support 6 and provided with a gear ell, which is adapted to mesh with a pinion 12 on the winding shaft. A brace i3 is connected to the auxiliary shaft 40, shown in Fig. 6, and to the shafts A disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, for holding the shafts against lateral movement and affording additional stability when strain is applied to the shafts.

In Fig. 7 a crane li is mounted in the brackets 45 which are connected to the front gate of the wagon boX B. A practically rectangular shaped frame 46 is connected to the crane, and is provided with openings in the upper and lower portions thereof, through which the shaft A extends. A cotter pin 47 is passed through the lower terminal of the shaft A for fastening; the shaft to the frame. Mounted upon the upper surface of the frame 46 are circularly arranged ratchet teeth 47 which are adapted to be engaged by the pawl 17 on the shaft A. In this application of the invention, a rope or cable 48 is connected to the shaft A by inserting an end of the cable through an opening 2 of the shaft, and is then passed around a pulley 49 mounted at the outer terminal of the crane l4. Tongs 50 are connected to the upper terminal of the rope or cable, but of course it is possible to apply any other tool or coupling to the cable instead of the tongs, it depending entirely upon the character of the article to be handled.

hen it is desired to lower the tongs, the foot lever 22, which in this instance is mounted in one of the side members of the frame 45, is actuated, raising the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 47,

till

moving the ring 20 in an upward direction, when the shaft A will be free to rotate, so that the tongs can be lowered for the purpose of grasping an object, such as hay, ice, and the like.

When it is desired to lift the article or object into the wagon or body B, the foot lever 22 is released and the ring 20 will re turn to its normal position upon the upper surface of the frame 46. The crank handle 1 of the shaft A will be rotated for turning the shaft A and causing the rope L8 to be wrapped around the shaft. In this manner, the tongs with the load is raised to a sufficient elevation to deposit the article or object in the wagon body.

V hen the load has been raised to the proper elevation, the crane will be swung for the purpose of bringing the load over the vehicle body, and when in this position the tongs are lowered for the purpose of depositing the article or object in the wagon body.

It will be seen that with an apparatus of this character it is possible to load and unload hay, ice, bales, boxes, and various other articles.

In Fig. 9, the wagon box B has the windlass or winding shaft A mounted thereon in a similar manner to that set forth in Fig. 1. An auxiliary front end gate 51 is mounted in the wa on box and is formed in the shape of a scoop, the bottom or base 52 being mounted upon the bottom of the body 13, and the sides 53 are connected to the bottom 52 and are located adjacent to the sides of the body or box B, the edges of the sides being beveled downwardly to the bottom 52. Connected to the bottom 59. of the end gate scoop is a flexible bottom 54:, which is mounted upon the bottom of the body or box. A rope or cable 55 is connected to the free end of the flexible body and passes over a pulley 56 journaled to the bottom of the body and at the rear end of the box. The cable is con nected at its other terminal to the shaft A whereby upon the winding of the shaft A, in a clockwise direction, the flexible bottom and scoop or end gate 51, will be drawn lengthwise of the body B for discharging the contents of the body or box B. A. return cable 57 is connected to the auxiliary end gate 51, and passes through an opening 58 in the front end gate of the box. This rope or cable is connected to the shaft A, so that upon the rotation of the shaft in a counter-clockwise direction the cable 57 will be wrapped around the shaft A, for drawing the flexible body and auxiliary end gate into the wagon body and to its normal position. As the rope 57 is wrapped around the shaft A the cable 55 is being unwound, so that the flexible bottom and auxiliary end gate are permitted to be drawn into and lengthwise of the wagon body.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for applying brakes to wagons, street cars, automobiles and the like, or which may be used for the purpose of loading and unloading heavy objects by means of a crane, or by hauling the heavy objects into the vehicle body by means of a cable passing through the body B and connected to the object which is drawn from a platform or along a plank into the wagon body upon the winding of the shaft A.

The invention may be used for drawing vehicles, such as wagons and automobiles out of pits, mud holes, and the like, by connecting a rope or cable to a tree or post, and, the other terminal of the rope to the wind lass or shaft, and, then, by winding the rope o the shaft, the vehicle can be drawn from the pit or mud hole.

What is claimed is,

1. A winding mechanism comprising a frame, a winding shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, said frame provided with ratchet teeth, a pawl pivotally connected to the shaft engaging the teeth for locking the shaft against rotation in one direction, means mounted upon the frame in engagement with the pawl, and a lever connected to said means for raising the means and causing the pawl to be withdrawn from engagement with the teeth so that the shaft may rotate in an opposite direction.

2. A winding mechanism comprising a frame, a shaft mounted in the frame, ratchet teeth on the frame around the shaft, a pawl pivotally connected to the bracket and engaging the ratchet teeth for locking the shaft against rotation in one direction, a ring mounted on the frame and located so that the pawl will always be in engagement therewith, and a lever pivotally connected to the frame and to the ring for raising the ring and causing the pawl to be moved out of engagement with the ratchet teeth to allow the shaft to rotate in an opposite direction.

3. The combination with a frame and an annular row of ratchet teeth provided on the frame, of a shaft mounted in the frame, a pawl pivotally connected to the shaft and engaging the ratchet teeth, a ring mounted upon the frame around the ratchet teeth, said pawl engaging said ring, stems connected to the ring, and a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and connected to the stems, whereby upon the operation of the lever, the ring is caused. to move upwardly and raise the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth.

4. In a winding mechanism, the combination with a frame having an opening therethrough, and a row of annularly arranged ratchet teeth on the frame around the opening, of a winding shaft mounted in the opening of the frame, a bracket on the shaft mounted upon the frame, balls interposed between the bracket and the frame for forming an anti-friction bearing, a pawl pivotally connected to the shaft and engaging the ratchet teeth of the frame, a ring mounted upon the frame around the teeth in a position to be engaged by the pawl, stems connected to the ring, a lever pivotally connected to the frame and having the stems connected to it, springs mounted upon the stems for normally holding the ring down, said ring being adapted to be raised upon the operation of the lever, for raising the pawl and disengaging it from the ratchet teeth to allow the shaft to rotate in an opposite direction, and means for rotating the shaft.

5. A winding mechanism comprising a frame, a shaft mounted thereon having a crank handle for rotating the shaft, ratchet teeth provided on the frame, a pawl pivotally. connected to the shaft engaging the teeth, a foot lever connected to the shaft for assisting in the rotation of the shaft, and means for releasing the pawl from 'engagement with the ratchet teeth and allowing the shaft to rotate in an opposite direction. 6. A winding mechanism comprising a frame having an opening therein and a row of ratchet teeth located around the opening, a shaft extending through the opening, a bracket on the shaft engaging the frame for supporting the shaft thereon, balls interposed between the bracket and upper surface of the frame for forming an anti-friction bearing, a pawl pivotally connected to the bracket and engaging the teeth on the frame for locking the shaft against rotation in one direction, a crank arm for rotating the shaft, a ratchet wheel connected to the shaft, and a foot lever loosely mounted upon the shaft and provided with a dog for engaging the ratchet wheel whereby upon the movement of the foot lever the shaft will be rotated.

7. A winding mechanism comprising a frame having an opening therein, a winding shaft extending through the opening and provided with a crank arm for rotating the shaft, abracket mounted on the shaft engaging the upper surface of the frame, ratchet teeth formed on the frame and around the shaft, a pawl pivotally connected to the bracket engaging the teeth for locking the shaft against rotation in one direction, a ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft, a foot lever loosely mounted upon the shaft and resting upon the bracket, a dog carried by the lever adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, whereby the shaft may be rotated upon the movement of the foot lever in one direction.

8. In a winding mechanism, the combination with a frame having an opening therein, and a row of ratchet teeth arranged around said opening upon the upper surface thereof, a bracket mounted upon the shaft, balls interposed between the lower terminal of the bracket and the upper surface of the frame for forming an anti-friction bearing, a pawl pivotally connected to the bracket and engaging the teeth of the frame, a ring mounted upon the upper surface of the bracket and located below the apex of the teeth, said pawl being adapted to engage the ring, stems connected to the ring and extending through the frame, a lever pivotally connected to the frame and connected to the stems, springs mounted upon the stems interposed between the lever and lower surface of the frame for normally holding the ring in engagement with the upper surface of the frame, said ring adapted to be raised upon the actuation of the lever for moving the pawl out of engagement with the teeth. In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE PATTERSON CRUTCHFIELD. Witnesses:

J. R. BROWN, A. B. LAMBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

